Winter in the Middle Urals is changeable; there are days with real frosts of 40 degrees. However, even in winter there are many tourists in Yekaterinburg: the weather scares travelers little, but the dynamically developing city with perfectly preserved ancient architecture and modern opportunities for recreation and entertainment traditionally attracts guests from nearby cities and remote regions of Russia.
- Mayakovsky Park
- Settlements of the Nevyansky district
In winter, skating rinks are popular in Yekaterinburg, and you can ski and sled from the mountains even within the city. Architectural attractions, winter festivals and holidays outside the city await tourists who are ready to travel at any time of the year and don’t mind dressing warmly.
View of winter Ekaterinburg
Weather in Yekaterinburg in winter
The Sverdlovsk region, with its capital in Yekaterinburg, is located in an area with a sharply continental climate, which means that winters here are cold, but most often the temperature in the center of the Ural Federal District is set in the region of average values. Winter usually has little snow
and long-lasting, often changeable. Before traveling to the Middle Urals, a traveler should study weather forecasters' forecasts for the upcoming season.
Autumn in Yekaterinburg ends in October, when stable sub-zero air temperatures are observed. In November, the night temperature is consistently below zero, and in December the thermometer can drop to minus 20-30°C
. Severe frosts are often replaced by thaws and cloudy days with snowfall, and travelers need to prepare for such sudden changes in weather.
New Year's Eve in Yekaterinburg
The Ural is not just a place on the map: this mountain system connects the European part of Russia with Western Siberia and the Far East. In the Sverdlovsk region you can find beautiful natural places that are especially attractive in winter and during the New Year holidays, including for families with children. In the capital of the region, tourists keen on exploring cities will find a lot of interesting things to do in terms of attractions and entertainment.
New Year tree on the main square of the city
In December, on Square 1905, located in the center of Yekaterinburg, the Ice Kingdom opens - a winter city with figures and slides made of ice and a magnificent New Year tree. Every year a special theme is chosen for the Ice Kingdom; for example, in 2020 the town was dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by a Russian expedition. The town also hosts a New Year’s fair, which in 2022 ranked third in quality among similar fairs in Russia, behind only St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Ice Kingdom welcomes guests almost until the end of January, so citizens and visitors have a great opportunity to relax and walk around the fair even after the end of the New Year holidays.
New Year's performances in Yekaterinburg and outside the city begin in mid-December. Thus, the historical and architectural museum in Nevyansk (north of the Sverdlovsk region) organizes the “Demidov Christmas tree” - a theatrical performance with games and round dances with the participation of visitors, as well as gifts from Santa Claus.
In the village of Aramil near Yekaterinburg, Skazov Park is open to guests in winter: the park is located in a picturesque location, equipped with areas for outdoor events and warm huts for games during the cold. During the New Year's season, the throne room of the Ural Frost Palace welcomes guests in the park.
New Year holidays in Skazov Park
Tourists who want to spend New Year's Eve in the city will be able to attend festivities around the Christmas trees at the Yeltsin Center and the EXPO exhibition center. The main thing is not to forget to dress warmly - winter nights in Yekaterinburg can be really frosty!
Rope park, laser maze and trampolines
Address: st. March 8, 46
Opening hours: daily 10:00 – 22:00
Cost of visiting: from 30 to 150 rubles per game, rope park - 250 rubles, trampoline - 150 rubles
A large number of varied entertainments are collected under the roofs of shopping and entertainment centers in Yekaterinburg. One of them is the Greenwich shopping center. Here a child can feel like a rock climber in a safe environment by visiting a rope park. “Heroes Park” is a sports complex that helps develop ingenuity, balance, coordination and endurance. Here you can also find children's quests, labyrinths and unique attractions. You can also try to find a way out of the laser maze, frolic on an acrobatic trampoline, or visit the city of professions “FantasyGrad”, which embodies a medieval atmosphere.
City attractions
Fans of urban tourism know that cities in winter and summer are like different universes, especially in regions with pronounced seasonality. When sightseeing in Yekaterinburg in winter during a walking tour, it is advisable to stock up on a thermos with hot tea or coffee. As a last resort, you can always look into a shopping center, coffee shop or pizzeria, which in themselves are of interest to lovers of modern urban architecture.
Sevostyanov's House
Square 1905
The main city square got its name in honor of the famous revolutionary events that shook the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century. Around the square are the city administration building, a monument to V.I. Lenin, TSUM "Passage", Torgovy, banks, as well as free parking, which in winter turns into a fabulous ice town with colorful illumination.
Ice town
While walking around Yekaterinburg on a cold winter day, tourists can pop into the nearest coffee shop or the boutiques of the shopping centers located along the perimeter of the square. In December-January, the Ice Kingdom with its New Year's fair is a popular holiday destination for locals and visitors.
Central department store "Passage"
This is a favorite place for citizens and tourists due to the convenient location of the department store: next to the 1905 Square on the pedestrian street Weiner. There is a small square in front of the TSUM building, which is almost always filled with people. At TSUM you can have a snack or a full lunch, visit the multiplex cinema "Passage Cinema", shop in the hypermarket on the ground floor or in one of the many boutiques of the shopping center. At each level of the Central Department Store there are benches for rest.
Winter lights of the Passage department store
Vayner Street
The pedestrian street in the very center of Yekaterinburg will certainly attract the attention of tourists. On this oldest street of the city there are many architectural monuments, as well as the original city sculptures “Friends”, “Peddler”, Monument to Lovers, Monument to the Banker.
Vanera street in winter
In the fall of 2022, it is planned to open the Hermitage-Ural after restoration at Vainera, 11: the historical house was connected to a new building made of concrete, glass and metal. A collection of works of Western European art, donated to Yekaterinburg by the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, will be exhibited here.
Along this popular pedestrian street there are numerous cafes, shops and souvenir shops, and at the very end of the street there is a shopping mall with shops, restaurants and a cinema. After a long walk in the center of Yekaterinburg, “Greenwich” is what a backpacker needs to relax.
Business-
East of the center, along the street. Malysheva, 51 in the Vysotsky business center there is an open observation deck with a glass fence at an altitude of 186 meters. Visitors have a panoramic view of the entire city; photography and video shooting are allowed. The site has four indoor booths where you can drink coffee and watch the sunset in a more private setting.
View of winter Ekaterinburg from the Vysotsky business center
Of particular interest to city guests is the V.S. Museum. Vysotsky, located on the first floor of the business center (participant of the “Ekaterinburg Guest Card” program). The museum presents an amazing exhibition consisting of the poet’s personal belongings, bought at an auction in Paris with the support of Vysotsky’s widow, Marina Vladi, and also donated by the poet’s son. Among the unique exhibits is the famous Mercedes car driven by Vladimir Vysotsky, and his last poem dedicated to his wife.
Embankment of the Iset River
Approximately halfway between Square 1905 and the Vysotsky business center, the Iset River flows through the City Pond. Along the Iset embankment and near it there are many objects of architectural and cultural value.
A little less than a year ago, the renovated central section of the embankment was put into operation - a walking area with access to the water. On the western bank of the Iset lies the Dendrological Exhibition Park (it can be reached from Weiner Street).
Iset embankment on a winter evening
Along the embankment you can see unusual monuments - the Beatles group, the Keyboard Monument, there is also the Museum of Nature, the Museum of Architecture and Design, and the Historical Square. Near the City Pond lies the Literary Quarter, a park with ancient buildings and several museums.
The Russian Copper Company headquarters building, designed by the architectural bureau of Norman Foster, a famous British architect, deserves special mention. Externally, the 15-story building resembles a crystal made of copper, and undoubtedly attracts attention with its unusual and laconic forms. The construction is also notable for the fact that it is the first building in Russia designed by a famous British architectural bureau.
Read more about other attractions of Yekaterinburg.
Yekaterinburg temples and churches
The first Orthodox churches and temples appeared in Yekaterinburg almost immediately after its foundation. Throughout the entire period of the city’s existence, they influenced its architectural style and appearance. Today, many of them are recognized landmarks and cultural and spiritual centers of the city.
Church of the Ascension
The attraction is located on Voznesenskaya Hill, in one of the most picturesque places in the city. This is the highest point in Yekaterinburg. Therefore, it is impossible to lose sight of the church. In addition, its architectural forms attract admiring glances not only from connoisseurs of spirituality and culture, but also from the most fastidious materialists.
The church is a unique example of late Baroque, combining lightness, solemnity and grandeur.
You can visit the church at the address: K. Tsetkin Street, 11.
Big Chrysostom
Interesting places in Yekaterinburg are always ready to receive tourists. The Great Chrysostom or wedding temple is characterized by a rare appearance. Such churches were erected on the territory of the Russian state in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The building is made in the Byzantine-Russian style. The church is also crowned with five domes, the highest of which, located in the center, contains a belfry. The belfry tier in it is located above the common space. It is known that after all the construction work was completed, the church was painted in the same colors as the neighboring Church of the Holy Spirit.
Almost all excursions include a visit to this shrine in their itineraries. Tourists have the opportunity to visit the belfry and see the largest bell in the city, which weighs about 16 tons. There are magnificent views from here; many tourists enjoy taking photographs here. The church is located at the address: 8 Marta Street, building 17a.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
The Holy Trinity Cathedral amazes with its captivating and majestic beauty, unique forms and external decoration. The main quadrangle is decorated with a round drum located on it, equipped with eight windows, as well as a rather high dome and small domes at the corners of the structure.
Entrances are located on both sides. They are a kind of porticoes with columns. It is characteristic that the first tier of the bell tower is attached to the main one. The interior decoration is amazing with its views. The walls are painted with gold on a blue background.
All paintings are made using ancient technology. But the ancient iconostasis, unfortunately, has not survived to this day. Therefore, you can see icons of modern masters who presented all the main Orthodox paintings. The cathedral is located on Rosa Luxemburg Street, at number 57.
Temple of Seraphim of Sarov
This is one of the modern churches, built in 2006. The creators decided to make it bright and unusual, so that it would stand out from the ancient temples and churches of the city. A large amount of gilding was used to decorate the church, the frescoes were created very colorful (blue, yellow and white colors predominate).
The chandelier located in the middle of the hall cannot but attract attention with its rich decor. The decoration of the iconostasis is also striking in its appearance. The windows of the church are located in a special way, which gives the impression that the walls of the temple are glowing. This effect is especially pronounced under the main dome.
Today the church is one of the most favorite places to visit on the city’s tourist routes.
You can find the temple at the address: st. Yasnaya, 3
Active winter holidays
In the city and its immediate surroundings there are a large number of parks, slides, natural hills, and ponds for active recreation of adults and children in winter.
Mayakovsky Park
Yekaterinburg Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after. V.V. Mayakovsky is a favorite vacation spot for townspeople and tourists, especially in winter. Not only children, but also their parents enjoy riding the park’s high slides. When traveling with your family, a visit to Mayakovsky Park is a must.
Skating rink in Mayakovsky Park
In addition to fun activities in the form of slides, the park offers recreation at a ski base with rental of skis, Finnish sleds and snow scooters. The park has a large skating rink with music, skate rentals and a warm locker room - and all this pleasure is within the city!
Sports and entertainment complex "Uktus"
The complex is located on the territory of the residential area of the same name in Yekaterinburg on the slopes of the Uktus Mountains (mountain massif of the Middle Urals). The location of the complex within the city makes this place especially popular among citizens and tourists.
Ski complex Uktus
The modern sports and entertainment complex has four ski slopes designed for athletes with varying levels of training, cross-country skiing trails, as well as slides for inflatable sledding (tubes) and snowboarding. On the territory of the complex you can rent a grill gazebo for relaxing with company in the fresh air or a warm gazebo, or visit the cafeteria.
Rest on Lake Shartash
The lake is the largest body of water within the city, located on the northeastern outskirts of Yekaterinburg. On the banks of Shartash there are several bases for active winter recreation and fishing. The sports school and kite surf station of the Ural Boarding Association offer snowkiting training services for lovers of modern sports entertainment. In winter, trout, catfish and carp are caught on Shartash.
Activities on Lake Shartash
Kennel of sled huskies "Elbrus"
Husky Park is located in the southwest beyond the EKAD, half an hour’s drive from the city center. Visitors to the kennel can ride a dog sled, take a tour of the kennel, and take photographs with different breeds of sled dogs: huskies, malamutes, huskies, and Samoyeds. Children and adults have the opportunity to interact closely with animals.
Children will be happy to ride with sledding huskies
One of the nursery’s winter programs involves a seven-kilometer run on a dog sled with a hike to the rocks. The excursion lasts six and a half hours, during which you can see the beautiful landscapes of the Middle Urals in winter.
Unique children's zoos in Ekaterinburg
The child needs help organizing his leisure time not only during walks, but also at home. The absolute hit of 2022 “Draw with Light” creativity set , has been flying off the shelves of all children’s stores for several months now. And no wonder! After all, this simple and cheap toy helps develop a child’s creative abilities and introduces him to the laws of physics in a playful way. FIND OUT MORE...
Crocodile farm "Crocodileville"
A large farm where more than 200 crocodiles of different species live. Here you can meet huge alligators, weighing more than half a ton, and tiny crocodiles that fit in the palm of your hand. In addition to crocodiles, monitor lizards, turtles, iguanas and snakes live in Crocodileville .
At the farm you can learn about the features and differences of different species, and feed Nile crocodiles. Here lives the friendly crocodile Totosha, who you can pet and hold in your hands.
Children from 4 years old can visit the farm. Opening hours: 10.00-20.00. Ticket price starts from 300 rubles. https://vk.com/krokodilvill
Reindeer nursery "Northern Lights"
The nursery is home to amazing deer, different in character and temperament. You can go to the nursery on your own or with a group. Guests are offered educational thematic excursions about reindeer husbandry, the life of reindeer , etc.
Animals can be fed and photographed. The nursery also offers reindeer riding. Not only do adults live in the nursery, but fawns are also born, which you can see and pet.
You can go here for 350 rubles. Opening hours should be confirmed with the administration. https://urdm.ru https://vk.com/severnoesiyanie66
Scientific zoo “Everything is like animals”
An unusual zoo where children can learn the basics of zoology and natural history. Here you can find out what the inside of a beehive and anthill looks like, and learn incredible facts about the animals of the planet.
The zoo is contact. Experienced instructors will tell you what you can feed the animals and tell interesting facts about them. Interesting events, team tournaments and open lessons are also held here.
Children over 3 years old can visit the zoo accompanied by adults.
Ticket price from 180 rub. Opening hours from 11.00 to 21.00. https://naukazoo.ru/
Winter festivals
Ekaterinburg is a dynamically developing city with a rich cultural agenda. One of the most interesting winter events is the Not Dark Light Art Festival, which takes place on the shortest day of the year, December 22. Residents and tourists can see original light installations in different areas of the city, created by local artists and designers, as well as participants from other countries.
Ice Sculpture Festival Star of Bethlehem
Every year, the International Ice Sculpture Festival “Star of Bethlehem”, dedicated to Christmas, is held at the Church on the Blood in early January, and the results of the competition are summed up on January 7. Viewers have the opportunity to see the entire process of creating an ice sculpture. After the end of the festival, the works of the contestants delight the residents and guests of Yekaterinburg for a long time.
The Old New Rock Music Festival is held annually on January 13th. Rock music lovers can watch performances by famous bands, as well as get acquainted with the work of young musicians. The date of the festival is clearly tied to the Old New Year, which allows you to include the event in your travel plan in advance.
Theaters
Yekaterinburg is a theater city: in terms of the number of theater venues, it is second only to Moscow and St. Petersburg. Winter is a great time for spectators to attend a lot of interesting performances.
The Yekaterinburg State Opera and Ballet Theater “Ural Opera Ballet” is the oldest in the Urals and a participant in numerous competitions and festivals in Russia and abroad. The theater is known not only for its classical productions, but also for its avant-garde interpretations of famous operas. In the repertoire of the Ural Opera Ballet, modern viewers are attracted, first of all, by original works. During the New Year's festivities, the most popular production is The Nutcracker, and this is a great reason to take your child to the ballet.
Ballet Theater Nutcracker
The Sverdlovsk Theater of Musical Comedy is a multiple winner of the Golden Mask award. The theater is famous for musicals and dance shows. The hallmark of musical comedy is the production “Catherine the Great”, as well as the original reality musical “www.silicone fool.net”: both works were by Fr.
The Sverdlovsk Academic Drama Theater is the leading theater venue in the Urals. The troupe’s repertoire includes “Hamlet”, “Viy”, “Days of the Turbins”, “The Master and Margarita”, “Zoyka’s Apartment” and many other productions that will delight lovers of dramatic art.
Academic Drama Theater
The Theater for Young Spectators and the Puppet Theater are designed for young visitors, so if you find yourself in Yekaterinburg with children, you can go to performances and introduce the younger generation to such a spectacular form of art. On New Year's Eve, bright performances for children are staged at all theater venues in the city.
Promising regional theaters operate in Yekaterinburg. The “Center for Contemporary Drama” stages dramas, melodramas, and tragicomedies, including an hour-long production without intermission “Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes” based on the novel of the same name by Guzel Yakhina. “Yellow Square”, a private independent theater with a cozy hall, awaits its audience. Small youth troupes and studios in Yekaterinburg are a source of talent for artists, including famous ones.
Museums for children
Museum of Military Equipment "Military Glory of the Urals"
Museum of Military Equipment "Military Glory of the Urals"
Museum of Military Equipment - “Combat Glory of the Urals”
Many parents are looking for where to go with their child in Yekaterinburg so that their vacation is not only exciting, but also educational. In this case, the “Military Glory of the Urals” museum would be a good option. This is a whole open-air complex. Schoolchildren and adults will enjoy an exciting excursion, as well as exhibits of military vehicles from different years. The open area is completely free to visit. Entrance to the museum is paid.
Address and contacts
Address: Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Alexandra Kozitsyna, 2. Opening hours: museum: Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. Sign up for a tour: 8(34368)467-84. Official website: https://museum.elem.ru.
Ticket price
- for adults - 300 rubles;
- for pensioners, students - 100 rubles;
- excursion - 200 rubles;
- playground - free.
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Ekaterinburg Planetarium Radio Museum named after. A. S. Popova
Ekaterinburg Planetarium Radio Museum named after. A. S. Popova
Planetarium in Yekaterinburg
It will give you an unforgettable experience and introduce you to the amazing science of astronomy. A professional dome projection system allows you to demonstrate popular science programs and educational videos.
Address and contacts
Address: st. Rosa Luxemburg 9/11, Yekaterinburg. Telephone. Official website: https://uole-museum.ru. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00. The ticket office is open on the same days from 11:00 to 17:00. Monday and Sunday are days off.
Ticket price:
- adult - 200 rubles;
- for pensioners – 100 rubles;
- For children of preschool age, admission is free.
Other interesting museums
You can plunge into the world of fairy tales in the house-museum of P. P. Bazhov. The Literary Quarter is also waiting for its visitors - a whole complex of museums dedicated to Ural writers, as well as other Russian writers who visited the Urals over the years. Little ones will love the Wonderland Doll and Children's Book Museum. You should definitely visit the beautiful Park of the Literary Quarter.
Recreation and attractions outside the city
During the winter holidays and not only tourists can go outside the city and visit several interesting places related to the history of the Urals, as well as admire the nature of the Central Urals. Of particular interest is the Nevyansky district, located north of Yekaterinburg.
Settlements of the Nevyansky district
The administrative center of the district is Nevyansk
- was once a privately owned village called Nevyansky Zavod and the residence of the Demidov family of factory owners and entrepreneurs. Under one of the descendants of the Demidov family, the Nevyansk leaning tower, perhaps the most famous architectural structure in the Urals, was built in the village. The family tower served as a bell tower and also performed various economic functions. The reasons for the deviation of the tower from the vertical axis are unknown, but the similarity with the famous tower in Pisa only fuels interest in this historical and cultural monument of federal significance.
Leaning tower in Nevyansk
The local historical and architectural museum organizes exhibitions and lectures, and museum staff conduct excursions along the old streets of the Nevyansk Plant, in the Leaning Tower and the exhibition hall of the museum, with stories about the history of the region and the Demidov family. You can climb the tower without a guide to explore the surrounding area. Next to the tower there is a joint monument to Peter I and Nikita Demidov, the founder of the dynasty, to whom the emperor transferred ownership of the Nevyansk plant.
In Nevyansk there is also the Museum “House of the Nevyansk Icon”
- an art gallery with masterpieces of icon painting. The museum displays works of the Old Believer school of icon painting.
House of the Nevyansk Icon
Another famous place in the Nevyansky region is the village of Nizhnie Tavolgi, an ancient Ural village made famous by skilled potters. Tavolozhskaya ceramics are made from local red clay in the ancient traditions of black-polished ceramics or with emerald glaze. Guests of the local museum can not only look at the works of masters, but also try to make something with their own hands, as well as purchase finished products in a pottery shop. Currently, several hundred people live in the village, there is a hotel with Russian cuisine, a bathhouse and a billiards room.
If tourists come to Nizhnye Tavolgi during the New Year, then in addition to the pottery workshop, they will be able to visit Baba Yaga’s fairy-tale hut with their children and meet Father Frost and the Snow Maiden. At the local refectory you can enjoy pancakes and hot dishes served in clay dishes made by local potters.
Another ancient Old Believer settlement in the Nevyansk region that attracts tourists is the village of Byngi. Among the local attractions, the Temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker stands out - a functioning church in the Baroque style with icons depicting real Ural landscapes and mining factories. The Soviet television film “Gloomy River” was filmed in the village of Byngi.
Old villages of the Middle Urals
Among the interesting settlements around Yekaterinburg, the village of Koptelovo stands out: here, on the territory of the Koptelovsky museum complex, unique exhibits of peasant life are exhibited and even several huts from the 17th century have been preserved. The main attraction of the museum is Baba Katya’s hut, completely felled with an ax, with its original interior preserved.
The village of Aramashevo is 120 km away. from Yekaterinburg is known for the fact that here every year during the New Year holidays the local history museum organizes the “Russian felt boot holiday”. Guests can see how felt boots are made, take part in round dances and peasant games in the frosty air, and visit a village fair.
Village Aramashevo
Near Yekaterinburg there is a satellite town called Berezovsky. In this place, ore gold was found for the first time in Russia. Gold mining in two mines is still ongoing. At the Russian Gold Museum, visitors will learn about the history of the “gold rush” in Russia.
In Yekaterinburg and beyond, tourists will find many cultural and historical attractions, places for active recreation in winter, including with children.
Author of the article: Nikitin Anatoly
